Only 13 percent of Pfizer imported were used, rest destroyed: Keheliya

• Points out that it has been the practice to destroy expired vaccines

By Shane Senevirathne   
Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella said only 13 percent of the Pfizer vaccine imported to the country had been used and the rest was destroyed after expiry.   

He said misconception that immunizing against Covid when the pandemic was under control would cause other ailments due to side effects, distanced the people from the immunizing programme and that it resulted in the waste of a large stock of vaccines.   

 Although the government in consultation with the World Health Organization looked into the possibility of donating the balance stock of vaccine, before expiry to the friendly countries, they refused it for want of storage facilities.   
The minister pointed that there was no alternative but to destroy the vaccines that had expired. He said it was not possible to totally prevent it but an effective mechanism should be worked out to reduce it to the barest minimum.